Description
This Whipped Cottage Cheese Pizza Dip is a creamy, cheesy appetizer perfect for sharing. Ground beef cooked in marinara sauce is layered with a whipped mixture of cottage cheese, parmesan, and garlic, then topped with mozzarella and pepperoni before baking until bubbly. Serve warm with focaccia bread for a delicious twist on classic pizza flavors in dip form.
Ingredients
Meat and Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 24 oz. marinara sauce
Cheese Mixture
- 1.25 cups cottage cheese (2% or 4%)
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Toppings
- 4 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese (~1 cup)
- 3 oz. sliced pepperoni
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350℉ (175℃) and lightly spray an 8×8-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Ground Beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once fragrant, add the ground beef and cook for 5-8 minutes until fully browned. Stir in the marinara sauce and cook together for 1 more minute. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Prepare Cheese Blend: In a high-speed blender, combine the cottage cheese, grated parmesan, and minced garlic. Blend until fully mixed and creamy.
- Assemble Dip: Spread the whipped cottage cheese mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Spoon the cooked ground beef and marinara sauce mixture over the cottage cheese layer. Next, evenly sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the meat, and top with the sliced pepperoni.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the dip rest for 5 minutes. Serve warm alongside focaccia bread or your favorite dipping bread.
Notes
- Use either 2% or 4% cottage cheese based on your preferred creaminess and fat content.
- Feel free to substitute pepperoni with other favorite pizza toppings like olives or mushrooms for variety.
- Serve with focaccia, baguette slices, or pita chips for dipping.
- For a spicier dip, add crushed red pepper flakes to the meat mixture while cooking.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
